Lasting machines



R. M. BOWLER ETAL 3,082,449

March 26, 1963 LASTING MACHINES 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 23, 1962 Invenlors By their Allorney Raymond/I Bowler Arihur RJz'ub bard Q. & &

March 26, 1963 R. M. BOWLER ETAL 3,032,449

LASTING MACHINES Filed April 23, 1962 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 I I w-- 115 ji l I F 3 15% x L I //4- 15 5 3; 124-1 10% l? {HF March 25, 1963 R. M. BOWLER ETAL 3, 7

LASTING MACHINES 8 Sheets-Sheet '3 Filed April 23, 1962 March 26; 1963 R. M. BOWLER ETAL 3,082,449

LASTING MACHINES 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 2:5, 1962 R. M. BOWLER ETAL 3,082,449

March 26, 1963 LASTING MACHINES s Sheets-Shet 5 Filed April 25, 1962 March 26, 1963 R. M. BOWLER ETAL 3,032,449

LASTING MACHINES- Filed April 23, 1962 s Sheets-Sheet s March 26, 1963 R. MKBOWLER ETAL' L'AsmING MACHINES 8 Sheets-Sheet 7' Filecl April 23,. 1962 Z r% M ow w 3% 2 u m y, T m .w 6 0 n 4. wa m/ March 26, 1963 R. M. BOWLER EFAL 3,032,449

LASTING MACHINES Filed; April 23, 1962 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 III! 3,682,449 LASTEWG MAQHINES Raymond M. Bowler, Salem Depot, N.H., and Arthur R. Hubbard, Beverly, Mass, assignors to United Shoe ltlachiaery Corporation, Flemington, N..I., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Apr. 23, 1%2, Ser. No. 18?,356 15 Claims. ((31. 12-12) The invention relates generally to machines for lasting shoes and more particularly is directed to the lasting of the forepart and ball portions of a shoe. In its general organization the machine embodying the invention is similar to that shown in United States Patent No. 3,022,527, granted February 27, 1962. In some respects the present invention provides improvements to that earlier machine but it is to be understood that the scope of the present invention is not limited to the particular organization shown.

It has been found that to obtain optimum lasting results on the ball regions of a shoe bottom that the wipers adapted to engage the upper in this region must be accurately located lengthwise of the shoe since these wipers must not only operate on a portion of the substantially flat forepart but also must operate on that portion where the shoe bottom curves heightwise toward the heel end of the shoe. Machines previously available for this operation have positioned the ball wipers through the use of gaging means which depend to a great extent on the skill of the operator in accurately placing the shoe in the machine. Accordingly, it is one object of the invention to provide simple means for accurately positioning the ball wipers lengthwise of the shoe in accordance with the size of the shoe without depending on the skill of an operator. To this end the forepart of the shoe is definitely positioned lengthwise with respect to fore-part wipers which are adapted to operate on a wide variety of shoe sizes. The ball wipers are movable relative to the forepart wipers lengthwise of the shoe so as to be positioned automatically according to the size of the shoe for operation on the ball region of the shoe bottom. For determining the shoe size accurately and for setting the ball wipers accordingly, a heel support which is movable lengthwise into engagement with the heel end of the shoe is interconnected with the ball wipers for imparting a lengthwise movement thereto dilierentially proportional to the shoe size.

To obtain optimum lasting results, machines adapted to operate simultaneously on the forepart and ball regions are provided with ball wipers which cooperate with the forepart wipers to present a substantially continuous wiping surface engageable with the shoe bottom. Also for best results the ball wipers must have imparted thereto a lengthwise toeward movement as they wipe the upper widthwise over the shoe bottom in order to conform the upper properly against the ball region where it curves heightwise toward the heel end of the shoe. These requirements together with the necessity for lengthwise size adjustment has led to rather complex mechanisms in machines heretofore available. According to a further feature of the invention the ball wipers are mounted directly on the forepart wipers for widthwise movement therewith and for lengthwise movement relative thereto while maintaining the continuity of the wiping surfaces. The ball wipers are connected to cam means which are adapted to impart a lengthwise movement to the ball wipers as they are moved widthwise with the forepart wipers. Since the cam means control the lengthwise movement of the ball wipers, it is this means that is bodily adjusted according to shoe size by operation of the heel support to position the ball wipers accurately with respect to the ball region of the shoe to be operated upon.

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The above and other features of the invention including novel details of construction and arrangement of parts will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a shoe lasting machine embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the machine;

FIG. 3 is a vertical section on a plane extending fore and aft of the machine and showing the principal operating instrumentalities;

FIG. 4 is a plan view on an enlarged scale showing a shoe in position to be operated upon by the machine;

FIG. 5 is a View similar to FIG. 4 but with the heel support engaging theheel end of the shoe;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 showing the positions of various parts after operation of the wiping instrumentalities;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view exploded to illustrate the mounting of the ball wipers on the forepart wipers;

FIG. 8 is a section substantially on line VIII-VIII of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a section substantially on line 1X-IX of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a longitudinal section through the wipers at one side of the machine;

FIG. 11 is a section through the forepart of a shoe illustrating the operation of the wipers thereon;

FIG. 12 is a section on line XIl-XII of FIG. 11; and

FIG. 13 shows the bottom of a lasted shoe with the ball wipers superposed thereon in open and closed positions.

The invention is embodied in a machine for lasting shoes of which a typical example thereof is disclosed in said patent. As illustrated, the machine is provided with a shoe rest 20 which supports the forepart of a shoe comprising an upper and an insole asembled on a last. The machine is also provided with gripper units 22 and 24 (FIG. 4) arranged to grip the upper at opposite sides of the forepart and ball regions of the last respectively. Relative heightwise movement between the grippers and the shoe support acts to tension the upper for shaping about the last. After tensioning, the upper is clamped against the last by a toe pad 25 and side clamps 27. At this time the bottom of the last with the insole assembled thereon is positioned in the same plane as a pair of forepart wipe-rs 26 which are advanced and closed to Wipe the tensioned upper inwardly over the edge of the forepart of the insole. Each forepart wiper 26 has mounted thereon a ball wiper 28 which curves heightwise toward the heel end of the shoe from the plane of the torepart wiper so that a substantially continuous surface is presented to the shoe bottom to wipe the upper over the forepart and ball portion of the shoe bottom. A heel rest 30, which is generally similar in operation to that of the above-mentioned patent, not only provides support for the shoe against the wiper advancing and closing forces but also acts as a gage which uses the heel end of the shoe as a reference point relative to which the ball wipers are spaced according to the size of shoe to be operated on.

To position the shoe in the illustrative machine, the bottom of the shoe is placed on the shoe support 20 (FIG. 3) which at this time occupies a posit-ion below the plane of the wipers 26. The forepart of the shoe is positioned lengthwise relative to the forepart wipers by engag ment of the toe end of the last with a toe distributor plate 32 (FIG. 4) while the lateral position of the last forepart is determined by a pair of side distributor plates 34. The toe and side distributor plates in addition to positioning the last in the machine also act to press the outspread upper against the underside of the wipers 26 during the relative movement of the wipers and shoe support to distribute the upper evenly for avoiding undesirable wrinkles. Since only the shoe positioning function of the distributor plate 32 is important to an understanding of the present invention, no further description of its operation will be given herein. It should be suficient to note that other shoe positioning means could be substituted for the distributor plate without departing from the scope of the invention.

After the shoe is located in the machine, the margin of the upper is gripped by the gripper units 22 and 2.4, and the support 20 is moved heightwise causing the upper to be pulled and tensioned about the last. This action of the support also moves the shoe to a heightwise position where the botom of the shoe is at or slightly above the plane of the forepart wipers 26. For this movement the support 20 is carried on the upper end of a post 40 which is mounted for heightwise movement in a bore 42 in a portion of the machine frame. The iower end of the post is fixed to a piston 46 movable in a cylinder 48 against the action of a spring 50'. The cylinder is secured to the machine frame and is provided at its lower end with a pipe 52 by which air is admitted to raise the piston and shoe support 20 as above mentioned. The mechanismfor operating the shoe support forms no part of the present invention and it is contemplated that the invention would be equally applicable to other machines where relative heightwise movement between the shoe support and the wipers would be accomplished in a completely diiferent manner or where no such relative movement would be required.

Each of the forepart wipers 26 is detachably secured in a carrier 60 (FIG. 4) which is provided with a pair of rolls 62 received in cam slots 64, 66 formed in a cover plate 68 secured to an upper inclined portion of the machine frame. For advancing and closing the wipers to wipe the margin of the tensioned upper across the edge of the shoe bottom, both carriers 60 are connected by links '70 (FIG. 2) to the opposite ends of a bar 72 secured to the end of a piston rod 74. The other end of the rod is fixed to a piston 76 (FIG. 3) operative in a cylinder 78 fixed to the machine frame. Thus, by admitting air to the cylinder from a pipe 80, the forepart wipers are advanced lengthwise and closed widthwise against the action of a spring 82 in the cylinder.

The ball wipper 28 each comprises a flexible plate 82 having an irregular shape substantially as shown in FIGS. 7-10. The toeward end of the plate is secured by a screw 84 to an inclined surface 86 (see especially FIGS. 7 and 8) of a slide 88 mounted for movement lengthwise of the shoe in guideways 90formed in the forepart wiper 26. At its outer side the slide 88 is retained in the guideways by a gib plate 92. The surface 86 on the slide and hence also the wiper 82 is inclined away from the inner edge of the wiper 26 at an angle which suits the average lateral curvature of a shoe bottom as best seen in FIG. 12. Referring to FIG. it may be seen that the ball Wiper 8-2 curves heightwise from the upper surface of the wiper 2'6 forming a continuous surface adapted to wipe the entire forepart as well as the ball region along one side of the shoe bottom where the substantially flat forepart curves heightwise toward the heel end of the shoe. The slide 88 is provided with a cavty 94 adapted to accornmodate the free end of the wiper 82 upon deflection when engaged by the shoe bottom. The wiper plate 82 is rather easily deflected in a long curve from its position seen in FIG. 10 upon its initial engagement with the shoe bottom until a lug 96 bent downwardly and under the free end of the wiper plate engages the bottom of the cavity 94. Thereafter, deflection of the wiper 82 is greatly resisted so it tends to bend in a shorter curve over the ball region of the shoe bottom as best seen in FIG. 11.

The spacing of the ball region from the heel end of a shoe varies greatly between shoe sizes. Accordingly, provision is made for varying the position of the ball wipers automatically according to the size of each shoe being operated upon. To this end both slides 88 have fixed thereto lugs 98 having rolls 100 mounted on their upper sides. The rolls are received in cam groves 102 formed in the underside of plates 104 secured to the heelward ends of a pair of slides 106. These slides are mounted for movement lengthwise of the shoe in guideways 198 formed at opposite sides of the machine in the cover plate 68. Each slide 166 carries a pin 109 having an eccentric portion 110 (FIG. 4) on which is mounted an eye portion 112 of a flexible cable 114. The eccentric portion may be selectively positioned in either of two positions in a slot 116 formed in a block 118' fixed to the slide 196. Each cable 114 is individually conducted through a curved tube 120 and is connected at its other end to the lower arm 122 (FIG. 3) of a lever 124 pivoted at 125 on a bracket 126 fixed to the machine frame. The other arm 128 of the lever is connected by a link 130 to a lug 132 depending from and movable with the mounting for the heel rest 3d. The ratio of the relative lengths of the arms 122, 123 is equivalent to the ratio by which the spacing of the ball region from the heel end of the shoe varies according to shoe size. Thus, movement of the heel rest 30 from the position seen in FIG. 4 into engagement with the end of the shoe, as seen in FIG. 5, acts to measure its length and a proportional movement is transmitted through the levees 124 and cables 114, and against the action of a pair of springs 129 connected to the slides 106, causes the positions of the ball wippers 28 to be set in predetermined positions lengthwise of the shoe to be operated upon according to its size.

By reference particularly to FIG. 13 it may be seen that the position of the ball regions at opposite sides of the shoe occupy dilferent positions lengthwise of the shoe but with the ball region at the outside always being disposed closer to the heel end. In addition, thi relation varies depending on whether the shoe is left or right. Accordingly, the ball wipers at opposite sides must be set one toeward from the ball line at the center of the shoe bottom and one heelward thereof. To this end the eccentric portion 110 (FIG. 4) which attaches the cable 114 to the slide 106 may 'be selectively positioned by the operator in either a forward or rearward position in the slot 116. For this purpose both pins 109 carrying the eccentric portion are provided with knobs 134 which, as seen in FIGS. 2 and 4, are set in positions in which an L marked on each knob is in an upright rearward position while an R similarly marked on the knobs are in inverted positions. These settings indicate that the ball wipers have been adjusted to operate on a left-hand shoe. The relative positions of the ball wipers may be reversed for operating on a right-hand shoe by pulling the knobs 134 heightwise to remove the eccentric portions 110 from the slots 1 16 and then rotating them so the R markings on the knobs are in upright positions whereupon the knobs are depressed to replace the portions 110 in the slots.

As the forepart wipers 26 are advanced and closed widthwise from the positions seen in FIG. 5 to those seen in FIG. '6 in a manner previously described, the ball wipers 28 are caused to move widthwise with the forepart Wipers due to the mounting of the slides 88 thereon. Also at this time the ball wipers are moved lengthwise toward the toe end of the shoe as most clearly illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 13 so that as the upper is wiped inwardly over ball regions of the shoe bottom. it is also wiped toewardly to be pressed firmly against the ball region where it curves heightwise toward the heel end of the shoe. To this end the configuration of the cam grooves 102 is adapted to act on the rolls 103'as they move widthwise to impart the desired lengthwise movement to the ball wipers.

The side clamps 27 are mounted at opposite sides of the shoe on the toeward ends of a pair of levers 160. The levers are pivoted on pins 162 carried by the plates 104 at the heelward ends of the slides 106. At their heelward end the levers 169 are connected to piston rods 164 projecting inwardly from cylinders 166 which at their outer ends are pivoted on lugs 168 formed on the plates 104. After the upper is tensioned, the clamps 27 are moved inwardly against the upper by admission of air to the inner ends of the cylinders 166. Since the side clamps are carried on the plates 104, they are adjusted lengthwise with the ball wipers as the heel rest is moved against the heel end of the shoe so the upper may be clamped properly at the ball regions before being wiped over the shoe bottom.

The heel rest 30 comprises a flexible strap 136 (FIG. 2) which at opopsite ends is secured to a pair of rods 138 carried by brackets 140 in such manner as to provide adjustment of the heel rest to accommodate a variety of shoe styles and sizes. At their lower ends the brackets are secured to a pair of rods 142 which extend rearwardly into the machine in suitable hearings in the frame. The rods 142 are connected for unitary movement by a cross plate 144 (FIG. 3) to which is secured a piston -rod 146 extending forwardly from a piston 148 received in a cylinder 150 fixed to the machine frame. Admission of air to the forward end of the cylinder 150 moves the piston 148 rearwardly until the heel rest 30 engages the heel end of the shoe positioned in the machine against the toe distributor plate 32. This movement of the heel rest acts to measure the shoe length, as above described, to position the ball wipers 28 properly with respect to the ball region of the shoe. While the present machine uses the heel rest mechanism to gage the length of shoe and set the ball wipers accordingly, it is within the scope of the invention to utilize other means separate from the heel rest for this purpose.

Having thus described our invention what we claim as novel and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a shoe lasting machine having forepart wipers arranged to wipe the margin of an upper widthwise over the bottom of the forepart of a shoe; ball wipers carried by the forepart wipers for wiping the margin of the upper over the shoe bottom at opposite sides of the ball region of the shoe, said ball wipers and said forepart wipers forming a substantially continuou wiping surface which extends around the forepart of the shoe from points heelward of the ball regions at opposite sides of the shoe; a gage movable into engagement with the heel end of the shoe for measuring its length; and means connecting the gage and the ball wipers for differential movement lengthwise of the shoe proportionally according to the length of said shoe for positioning the ball wipers for operation at the ball region of said shoe.

2. In a shoe lasting machine having forepart wipers arranged to wipe the margin of an upper widthwise over the bottom of the forepart of a shoe; means for positioning the forepart of the shoe lengthwise relative to the forepart wipers, ball wipers carried by the forepart wipers for wiping the margin of the upper over the shoe bottom at opposite sides of the ball region of the shoe, said ball wipers and said forepart wipers forming a substantially continuous wiping surface which extends around the forepart of the shoe from points heelward of the ball regions at opposite sides of the shoe; a gage movable into engagement with the heel end of the shoe for measuring its length; and means connecting the gage and the ball wipers for differential movement lengthwise of the shoe proportionally according -to the length of said shoe for positioning the ball wipers for operation at the ball region of said shoe.

3. In a shoe lasting machine having forepart wipers arranged to wipe the margin of an upper inwardly over the bottom of the forepart of a shoe; ball wipers carried by the forepart wipers for wiping the margin of the upper over the shoe bottom at opposite sides of the ball region of the shoe, said ball wipers and said forepart wipers forming a substantially continuous wiping surface which extends around the forepart of the shoe from points heelward of the ball regions at opposite sides of the shoe; a gage movable into engagement with the heel end of the shoe for measuring its length; and means controlled by said gage for moving the ball wipers lengthwise of the forepart wipers proportionally according to the length of said shoe for positioning the ball wipers with respect to the ball region of said shoe.

4. In a shoe lasting machine having forepart wipers arranged to wipe the margin of an upper inwardly over the bottom of the forepart of a shoe; means for positioning the forepart of the shoe lengthwise relative to the forepart wipers, ball wipers carried by the forepart wipers for wiping the margin of the upper over the shoe bottom at opposite sides of the ball region of the shoe, said ball wipers and said forepart wipers forming a substantially continuous wiping surface which extends around the forepart of the shoe from points heelward of the ball regions at opposite sides of the shoe; a gage movable into engagement with the heel end of the shoe for measuring its length; and means controlled by said gage for moving the ball wipers lengthwise of the forepart wipers proportionally according to the length of said shoe for positioning the ball wipers with respect to the ball region of said shoe.

5. In a machine for lasting shoes, forepart wipers movable to wipe the margin of an upper widthwise over the bottom of the forepart of a shoe, ball wipers mounted on the forepart Wipers for movement therewith widthwise of the shoe and for independent movement relative thereto lengthwise of the shoe, and means operable before widthwise movement of the forepart wipers for automatically moving the ball wipers lengthwise of the shoe according to its size to position the ball wipers for operation at the ball region of the shoe.

6. In a machine for lasting shoes, forepart wipers movable to wipe the margin of an upper widthwise over the bottom of the forepart of a shoe, ball wipers mounted on the forepart wipers for movement therewith widthwise of the shoe and for independent movement relative thereto lengthwise of the shoe, means operable before widthwise movement of the forepart wipers for automatically moving the ball wipers lengthwise of the shoe according to its size to position the ball wipers for operation at the ball region of the shoe, and means for imparting a lengthwise movement to the ball wipers toward the toe end of the shoe as they are moved widthwise of the forepart wipers.

7. In a machine for lasting shoes, forepart wipers mov able to wipe the margin of an upper widthwise over the bottom of the forepart of a shoe, ball wipers mounted on the forepart wipers for movement therewith widthwise of the shoe and for independent movement relative thereto lengthwise of the shoe, said ball and forepart wipers forming a substantially continuous wiping surface which extends around the forepart of the shoe from points heelward of the ball regions of the opposite sides of the shoe, and means operable before widthwise movement of the forepart wipers for automatically positioning the ball wipers lengthwise of the shoe according to its size for operation at the ball region of the shoe.

8. In a machine for lasting shoes, forepart wipers movable to wipe the margin of an upper widthwise over the bottom of the forepart of a shoe, ball wipers mounted on the forepart wipers for movement therewith widthwise of the shoe and for independent movement relative thereto lengthwise of the shoe, said ball and forepart wipers forming a substantially continuous wiping surface which extends around the forepart of the shoe from points heelward of the ball regions of the opposite sides of the shoe, means operable before widthwise movement of the forepart wipers for automatically positioning the ball wipers lengthwise of the shoe according to its size for operation at the ball region of the shoe, and means for imparting a lengthwise movement to the ball wipers toward the toe end of the shoe as they are moved widthwise with the forepart wipers.

9. In a machine for lasting shoes, forepart wipers movable to wipe the margin of an upper widthwise over the bottom of the forepart of a shoe, ball wipers mounted on the forepart wipers for movement therewith widthwise of the shoe and for independent movement relative thereto lengthwise of the shoe, a gage movable into engagement with the heel end of the shoe for measuring its length, and means controlled by said gage for moving the ball wipers lengthwise of the forepart wipers proportionally according to the length of said shoe for positioning the ball Wipers for operation at the ball region of said shoe.

10. in a machine for lasting shoes, forepart wipers movable to wipe the margin of an upper widthwise over the bottom of the forepart of a shoe, ball wipers mounted on the forepart wipers for movement therewith widthwise of the shoe and for independent movement relative thereto lengthwise of the shoe, a gage movable into engagement with the heel end of the shoe for measuring its length, means controlled by said gage for moving the ball wipers lengthwise of the forepart wipers proportionally according to the length of said shoe for positioning the ball wipers for operation at the ball region of said shoe, and means for imparting a lengthwise movement to the ball wipers toward the toe end of the shoe as they are moved widthwise with the forepa-rt wipers to wipe the margin of the upper widthwise and lengthwise over the ball region of the shoe bottom.

11. In a machine for lasting shoes, forepart wipers movable to wipe the margin of an upper widthwise over the bottom of the forepart of a shoe; ball wipers mounted on the forepart wipers for movement therewith widthwise of the shoe, and for independent movement relative thereto lengthwise of the shoe; a pair of slides each mounted for movement lengthwise of the shoe and having a cam for controlling the lengthwise movement of an associated ball wiper during its widthwise movement with the forepart Wipers; a support movable into engagement with the heel end of the shoe for measuring its length; and means connecting the support and the. slides for differential lengthwise movement proportionally according to the length of the shoe to position the cam on each slide to cause the ball wipers to operate at the ball region of the shoe.

12. In a machine for lasting shoes, a pair of forepart wipers movable at opposite sides of the shoe to wipe the margin of an upper widthwise over the bottom of the forepart of a shoe, each torepart wiper having a slide mounted therein for movement therewith widthwise of the shoe and for movement relative thereto in directions generally lengthwise of the shoe, a ball wiper fixed to the for operation at the ball region of the shoe bottom.

' 13. Ina machine for lasting shoes, a pair of forepart wipers movable at opposite sides of the shoe to wipe the margin of an upper widthwise over the bottom of the forepart of a shoe, each forepart wiper having a slide mounted therein for movement therewith widthwise of the shoe and for movement relative thereto in directions generally lengthwise of the shoe, a ball wiper fixed to the slide, and forming with the associated forepart wiper a substantially continuous wiping surface adapted to engage the shoe bottom from the toe end to a point heelwardly of the ball region, means for imparting a lengthwise movement to the slide during its widthwise movement with the forepart wipers, a support movable into engagement with the heel end of the shoe for measuring its length, and means controlled by the support for bodily adjusting said imparting means lengthwise of the shoe in proportion to its length for positioning the ball wiper for operation at the ball region of the shoe bottom.

14. In' a machine for lasting shoes, a pair of forepart wipers movable at opposite sides of the shoe to wipe the margin of an upper widthwise over the bottom of .the forepart of a shoe, each forepart wiper having a slide mounted therein for movement therewith widthwise of the shoe and for movement relative thereto in directions generally lengthwise of the shoe, a ball wiper fixed to the slide and forming a wiping surface which curves heightwise toward the heel end of the shoe from the substantially fiat wiping surface of the forepart wiper means for imparting a lengthwise movement to the slide during its widthwise movement with the forepart wipers, a support movable into engagement with the heel end of the shoe for measuring its length, and means controlled by the support for bodily adjusting said imparting means lengthwise of the shoe in proportion to its length for positioning the ball wiper for operation at the ball region of the shoe bottom.

15. In a machine for lasting shoes, a pair of forepart wipers movable at opposite sides of the shoe to wipe the margins of an upper widthwise over the bottom of the forepart of the shoe, a pair of slides each individually mounted in an associated :forepart wiper for movement therewidth widthwise of the shoe and for movement relative thereto in directions generally lengthwise of the shoe, ball wipers each comprising a flexible curved plate fixed at its toeward end to the slide so as to be defiectable into a cavity in the slide, and a lug depending from the heelward free end of said plate to limit bodily flexu-re about the fixed end of the plate by engagement with the bottom of said cavity, whereby engagement with the shoe bottom causes the plate to be bent initially in a long curve which conforms substantially with the longitudinal curvature of the forepart of the shoe bottom, and after engagement of said lug with the bottom of said cavity to be bent adjacent its heelward end in a shorter curve which conforms substantially with the curvature over the ball region of the shoe bottom.

No references cited. 

1. IN A SHOE LASTING MACHINE HAVING FOREPART WIPERS ARRANGED TO WIPE THE MARGIN OF AN UPPER WIDTHWISE OVER THE BOTTOM OF THE FOREPART OF A SHOE; BALL WIPERS CARRIED BY THE FOREPART WIPERS FOR WIPING THE MARGIN OF THE UPPER OVER THE SHOE BOTTOM AT OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE BALL REGION OF THE SHOE, SAID BALL WIPERS AND SAID FOREPART WIPERS FORMING A SUBSTANTIALLY CONTINUOUS WIPING SURFACE WHICH EXTENDS AROUND THE FOREPART OF THE SHOE FROM POINTS HEELWARD OF THE BALL REGIONS AT OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE SHOE; A GAGE MOVABLE INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH THE HEEL END OF THE SHOE FOR MEASURING ITS LENGTH; AND MEANS CONNECTING THE GAGE AND THE BALL WIPERS FOR DIFFERENTIAL MOVEMENT LENGTHWISE OF THE SHOE PROPORTIONALLY ACCORDING TO THE LENGTH OF SAID SHOE FOR POSITIONING THE BALL WIPERS FOR OPERATION AT THE BALL REGION OF SAID SHOE. 